"Used To" / "Be Used To" / "Get Used To": What's the Difference?
Sometimes you only need to make a small change to an English word to have a big effect on its meaning and usage. We've discussed several examples of this on our blog already, and this time we'll focus on the verb "use."
By itself, it means "to put into action for a specific purpose." However, together with "to," it may not mean exactly what you think at first. This article will explain the differences between "used to," "be used to" and "get used to," which are each very important for all types of English communication. Let's begin!
Used to
First, let's cover the difference in pronunciation. In its basic verb form, "use" has a slightly long sound, very similar to the words "shoes" and "lose."
On the other hand, when put together with "to" to talk about the past, "use" and "used" have a shorter sound and sharper ending, similar to the word "boost."
Now that we've covered that, let's move on to the meaning. "Used to" means "previously" or "in the past." Look at these examples:
I used to eat meat, but now I'm a vegetarian.
My brother used to be in a band.
Did you notice that the order is always subject + used to + verb?
Let's look at some negative sentences next.
I didn't use to like green tea, but now I drink it all the time.
She didn't use to be so messy. What happened?
Notice that "used" becomes "use" when it comes after "didn't." This is because "did not" is already past tense. Even native speakers often make mistakes with this, so be sure to pay extra attention to it!
Next, here is "used to" when it is part of a question.
Didn't you use to play tennis?
You used to like coffee, didn't you?
All of these examples are referring to something in the past. Let's move on to the next usage of "used to."
Be used to
"Be used to" has two different meanings. The first is "used for" or "used in order to." This is similar to the basic meaning of "use" we mentioned at the start of this article.
A clock is used to tell time.
This device is used to help you find your phone if you lose it.
The second meaning is "accustomed to." If you are accustomed to something, it is normal to you; it is not new or unusual anymore. The correct usage order is subject + be + used to + noun/pronoun/verb ending in -ing."
All of the factory workers are used to the loud noise from the machines.
My parents are used to me coming home late at night.
I'm used to waking up at 6 a.m.
Get used to
This is closely connected to the usage from the previous section. "Get used to" means "become accustomed to." It can be used in various tenses, so let's look at some examples.
Get used to
Simone
How long did it take you to get used to your new job?
Nicole
It took me about six months to get used to it.
Notice that "to" always appears before "get used to."
Getting used to
Are you getting used to your new job?
They are getting used to living in Spain.
In these examples, the process of becoming normal isn't complete yet. In other words, the situation is somewhere between new and normal.
Gotten used to
Use "gotten used to" with the verb "have" for asking questions and for talking about the process of becoming accustomed to something.
Have you gotten used to waking up early every morning?
I still haven't gotten used to the weather in this city.
Got used to
This is the past tense. Here, the process of becoming normal is complete.
I hated my long commute at first, but I got used to it.
It took a long time, but I finally got used to speaking English every day.
Sometimes people don't get used to things even though a lot of time has passed.
She never got used to eating with chopsticks.
Wrap-up
Things always change, so it's important to be able to talk about the process of adjusting to new things. Every version of "use" we've explained in this article can help you do that in addition to letting you discuss the functions of objects, programs, apps and more. Keep practicing and it won't take you very long to get used to them all!
